An Iowa teenager who had recently been released from jail is accused of stealing a Chevrolet Corvette belonging to the very family member who helped get him out. What followed was a police chase exceeding 140 miles per hour that ended with the sports car sitting in a bean field and two teenagers in custody.
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on October 12, 2026, when the Newton Police Department received a report of a stolen 2007 Chevrolet Corvette at approximately 5:08 p.m. Less than three hours later, a Jasper County deputy spotted the vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 150.
The deputy attempted to stop the Corvette near the Mitchellville Rest Area, but the driver refused to pull over after the officer activated the cruiser’s emergency lights. Instead, the Corvette continued westbound into Polk County, reaching speeds exceeding 140 miles per hour as deputies pursued it.
The chase eventually ended northeast of Altoona, where authorities said the driver intentionally steered the Corvette into a ditch before the vehicle came to rest in a bean field. Deputies took both occupants into custody without further incident and identified them as 18-year-old Braiden Billings and 18-year-old Natalee Ryan, both of Newton.
Teen Accused of Stealing Corvette
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According to the sheriff’s office, Billings had been held in the Jasper County Jail on an assault charge before being released on October 11, just one day before the Corvette was reported stolen. A family member posted the bond securing his release, only to become the alleged victim of a vehicle theft the following day.
Investigators identified Billings as the driver of the Corvette during the October 12 pursuit, which continued into Polk County at speeds exceeding 140 miles per hour. The sheriff’s office did not disclose the family member’s identity, the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft, or how Billings obtained possession of the vehicle.
The incident ended when Billings drove the Corvette off the roadway and into a ditch, leaving the sports car in a bean field northeast of Altoona. Although the vehicle left the road following the high-speed pursuit, authorities reported that both Billings and Ryan were arrested without further incident.
Both Teenagers Face Felony Theft Charges
Billings faces charges of first-degree motor vehicle theft, felony eluding, and first-degree theft against an older individual, as well as traffic violations for running a red light and failing to stop at three stop signs. According to the sheriff’s office, he was being held in the Jasper County Jail on a $41,151.52 bond while awaiting his initial court appearance.
Ryan, who was riding as a passenger during the pursuit, was charged with first-degree theft against an older individual and was being held on a $25,000 bond. The sheriff’s office did not explain her specific involvement in the alleged theft or provide information suggesting that she was driving during any portion of the pursuit.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Iowa State Patrol, Colfax Police Department, and Prairie City Police Department during the incident. Both teenagers are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, while the accusations leave Billings facing a new criminal case just one day after a family member helped secure his release from jail.